25 Teams in 25 Days: Moss Point Tigers
“Just bouncing back from last season,” said junior wide receiver Stevie Thames. “Knowing we went 0-9 last season and just trying to make a comeback and show the coast who we are and what we’re going to be.”
“Just winning. Winning. That’s it,” said junior linebacker and running back Jamariyon Turner.
“We don’t have anything to lose, so all we’re shooting for is to win,” said senior wide receiver and defensive back Terrance Jones.
“I’m just ready to prove everybody wrong,” said senior wide receiver Jaxon Dubose.
If you can’t tell by the common theme, all Moss Point football wants to do is win. The Tigers were 0-9 last season and refuse to do the same. First year Head Coach Derrick Jenkins has preached discipline since day one and the team has completely bought in.
“I will say this, our guys have been very disciplined,” said first year Head Coach Derrick Jenkins. “That’s one thing we preach, hard work and discipline. These guys have really bought in to the culture we’ve trying to set here. They’re also learning and maturing. They’re growing up a little bit before our eyes, so it’s a pleasant sight to see.”
“Everybody’s more excited to come out here and practice,” Thames said. “We’re ready to work, and even at school he’s making us wear belts and trying to get us right with our education.”
“Everybody’s willing to buy in, everybody’s willing to do it and everybody wants to go,” said Jones.
“We’re changing,” said Turner. “We’re lifting even when coach doesn’t tell us to, we come up and get work whenever we want to and everyday we’re just training and trying to get better. We’re more disciplined, we’re focused and not playing as much and we’ve just changed.”
The Tigers aren’t returning a whole bunch of starters, but Coach Jenkins doesn’t necessarily feel that that’s a bad thing. He believes they’re already reaping the benefits of a changed mindset.
“One of our strengths that may be a weakness as well is that we’re inexperienced. Sometimes they don’t know what they’re doing and sometimes they just go full speed no matter what and just run through a wall, so I think that’ll be a plus for us,” said Coach Jenkins. “I think we’ve gotten mentally tougher through the summer as well and going into the fall.”
“Our linebackers are trained to go, we’re going and we’re moving,” said Turner. “Our running backs are moving that ball.”
“We’re real fast, quick and we can move and switch directions,” Dubose said.
Here’s to hoping they can change the direction of their program and bring back that Tiger pride!
“We’re ready, that’s all we talk about,” said Turner. “We’re just trying to change the narrative.”
“I’m just ready to get to it. I’m just about the action. I’m all about what football entails and the Friday night lights. I heard there’s always a big crowd here at Moss Point. The lights are bright, so I just want to come out here and bask in that light,” Coach Jenkins said. “They can expect a hard-nosed, disciplined football team. We’re going to come out and compete every game, every play, and we want to come out and gain our respect. We want people to respect us. We can come out here and live off the past achievements of this program. We have to go out and earn our respect and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
The Moss Point Tigers will strive to earn that respect this 2025 season by facing their rival of Pascagoula High School on August 29th.
